The McGovern Report- Special Interest and The Suppression of Science
In 1977 the push for a change of Dietary Guidelines (McGovern Report) to more plant-based vegan one had been introduced to U.S. Congress.
Milos Pokimica
Written By: Milos Pokimica
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Xiùying Wáng, M.D.
Updated June 9, 2023The battle for human lives and control and profit is real, but it is waged behind the scenes.
What most people are aware of is just propaganda. Doctors are good, they have to pledge a Hippocratic oath, there are there to heal you and help you, and of course one day medicine is going to deliver us from all diseases. In reality, it is completely opposite and sometimes completely in your face that it is pathetic.
For the majority of people that are not familiar with the history of nutritional science, this might come as a surprise that government itself has a network for suppressing the science and that individual men’s interest is not its primary goal. We can just remember the examples like “McGovern Report.”
In 1977 the “McGovern Report” came out. George McGovern was a former Democratic Senator from South Dakota who in 1972 suffered a presidential defeat to Richard Nixon, but he also was in the head of the committee that released the first Dietary Guidelines in the US. Before that, it was as it is now. Meat and sugar.
In 1977 most of the science you will find referenced in GoVeganWay articles was known to some extent. Even before that. Diseases of affluence like heart disease or cancer were beginning to skyrocket even at the beginning of the 20th century in the U.S. and some others developed countries. Meat consumption went up because personal wealth went up and people started to spend more on food. This will happen everywhere where the standard of living goes up. For example in rural China and India people mostly live on a starch-based vegan diet dominated by rice just because of poverty. But when those people move to cities to work in some newly constructed factory they will have more money to spend on food and this is exactly what happened in the U.S.
As a consequence diseases of affluence skyrocketed. After WW2 nutrition as science had begun to investigate this in a more professional and scientific manner. The research had been done and it took a couple of decades but the scientific consensus had been made.
The consensus was that it is not just saturated animal fat as believed in the 1950s or it was not just cholesterol it was an unnatural animal product-dominated diet as a whole. That type of diet was different from the starch-based vegan diet people eat just a hundred years ago. Scientific consensus at that time was and this is in the 1970s that humans as a species are primates and not true anatomical omnivores. The consensus was that government-backed by all of the nutritional research should change its animal product-dominated food pyramid model and that Dietary Guidelines should be more in line with human evolution. The report was made but even that report had to be “watered down”, but still. The push for changing the accepted Dietary Guidelines was made and introduced to Congress.
It was the McGovern Report.
What was so evil about this report? It basically stated that we should eat more whole grains, more fruits, more vegetables, less meat, less dairy, at least less whole-fat dairy, sugar, and so on. It still was a form of compromise and did not advocate a fully vegan diet, but it was a step in a similar direction. These new guidelines on eating were expected to have similar health-changing effects as the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking.
This is a quote from the report itself:
“There is a great deal of evidence, and it continues to accumulate, which strongly implicates and, in some instances, proves that the major causes of death and disability in the United States are related to the diet we eat. I (Dr. Hegsted of Harvard School of Public Health) include coronary artery disease, which accounts for nearly half the deaths in the United States, several of the most important forms of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity as well as other chronic diseases.”
Industry and a big chunk of senators called report big conspiracy theory and that McGovern Committee believes in depriving people of what they like.
This was from an official record of the committee hearing, and later the same story was pushed in mainstream media. If you don’t believe conspiracy theories and watch mainstream media here is one example of the mindset of industry people.
At that time The Salt institute warned that:
“If people eat healthier, we would have more old people to take care of“…, “simultaneously increasing the cost of care of old people which comes under the category of healthcare expenditures.”
“Rulers” people don’t like old ones because they do not produce and just suck off the resources that rulers want for themselves. It is better for them and the economy when people die at 60 just before pension, and it is even better when they spend their entire savings on heart surgery and chemotherapy before they die. It would not be cost-effective for “rulers” to have masses of people regularly living to 90. This planet in their mindset is already overpopulated.
The other industries also went ballistic, especially meat and egg.
They warn that:
“If Dietary Goals are mowed forward and promoted as a present norm the entire sectors of the food industry –meat, dairy, sugar, and others may be so severely damaged that when it is realized that Dietary Goals are ill-advised, as surely will be the discovery, production recovery may be out of reach.”
However, the food industry did not stop this report. This report was eventually stopped at the highest political level. The level that sees people as a resource.
The full report, pdf: (download)
References:
Passages selected from a book: Pokimica, Milos. Go Vegan? Review of Science Part 2. Kindle ed., Amazon, 2018.
- “Diet Related to Killer Diseases, III : Hearings Before the Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs of the United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, …” HathiTrust, babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0000416073;view=1up;seq=1.
- Oppenheimer GM, Benrubi ID. McGovern’s Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs versus the meat industry on the diet-heart question (1976-1977). Am J Public Health. 2014 Jan;104(1):59-69. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301464. Epub 2013 Nov 14. PMID: 24228658; PMCID: PMC3910043.
Related Posts
Do you have any questions about nutrition and health?
I would love to hear from you and answer them in my next post. I appreciate your input and opinion and I look forward to hearing from you soon. I also invite you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more diet, nutrition, and health content. You can leave a comment there and connect with other health enthusiasts, share your tips and experiences, and get support and encouragement from our team and community.
I hope that this post was informative and enjoyable for you and that you are prepared to apply the insights you learned. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and family who might also benefit from it. You never know who might need some guidance and support on their health journey.
– You Might Also Like –

Learn About Nutrition
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Medical Disclaimer
GoVeganWay.com brings you reviews of the latest nutrition and health-related research. The information provided represents the personal opinion of the author and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH GoVeganWay.com
NEVER APPLY ANY LIFESTYLE CHANGES OR ANY CHANGES AT ALL AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN GoVeganWay.com BEFORE CONSULTING LICENCED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. GoVeganWay.com does not recommend or endorse any specific groups, organizations, tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned inside.
Editor Picks –
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Latest Articles –
Plant Based News
-
Billie Eilish’s Plant-Based Menu Halved Food Emissions At Co-op Live Manchester
on September 4, 2025
-
10 Vegan Lunchbox Ideas Kids Will Love
on September 3, 2025
-
Pharmaceutical Company Boss Links Meat To Rise Of Autoimmune Diseases
on September 3, 2025
-
New Analysis Finds Carcinogenic Nitrates Still In Supermarket Ham
on September 2, 2025
-
Vegan Jamaican ‘Noxtail’
on September 2, 2025
-
Try This Vegan No-Fish Sauce
on September 1, 2025
-
Vegan Bodybuilder Wins Overall Bikini Category At Tennessee Competition
on September 1, 2025
Top Health News — ScienceDaily
- Metformin’s mysterious metal effect could explain its big health benefitson September 3, 2025
Metformin, the world’s most widely used diabetes drug, has long been recognized for its surprising range of benefits beyond lowering blood sugar, from reducing inflammation to lowering cancer risk. Yet its exact mechanism has remained unclear for decades. Now, researchers at Kobe University have uncovered the first clinical evidence that the drug alters levels of key metals in the blood.
- Overworked neurons burn out and fuel Parkinson’s diseaseon September 3, 2025
Overactivation of dopamine neurons may directly drive their death, explaining why movement-controlling brain cells degenerate in Parkinson’s. Mice with chronically stimulated neurons showed the same selective damage seen in patients, along with molecular stress responses. Targeting this overactivity could help slow disease progression.
- Hidden viruses in our DNA could be medicine’s next big breakthroughon September 3, 2025
Scientists have decoded the 3D structure of an ancient viral protein hidden in our DNA. The HERV-K Env protein, found on cancer and autoimmune cells, has a unique shape that could unlock new diagnostics and therapies.
- Why Alzheimer’s attacks the brain’s memory hub firston September 3, 2025
Virginia Tech researchers are investigating how overloaded mitochondria in the brain’s memory circuits may spark early Alzheimer’s damage. Their work focuses on calcium signaling and how it might trigger breakdowns in the entorhinal cortex.
- Scientists discover how to wipe out breast cancer’s hidden cellson September 2, 2025
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have shown for the first time that it’s possible to detect dormant cancer cells in breast cancer survivors and eliminate them with repurposed drugs, potentially preventing recurrence. In a clinical trial, existing medications cleared these hidden cells in most participants, leading to survival rates above 90%. The findings open a new era of proactive treatment against breast cancer’s lingering threat, offering hope to survivors haunted by the […]
- Study finds cannabis improves sleep where other drugs failon September 2, 2025
A long-term study following insomnia patients treated with cannabis-based medical products revealed sustained improvements in sleep quality, mood, and pain management over 18 months. Most participants reported better rest and less anxiety or depression, while only a small fraction experienced mild side effects such as fatigue or dry mouth.
- Scientists reveal how breathwork unlocks psychedelic bliss in the brainon September 2, 2025
High-ventilation breathwork with music can evoke psychedelic-like states, shifting blood flow in the brain and reducing negative emotions. Participants experienced unity and bliss, pointing to a natural therapeutic tool with powerful potential.
PubMed, #vegan-diet –
- Vegetarian diets for longevity: friend or foe?on September 3, 2025
Vegetarianism is a healthy dietary pattern that is postulated to increase longevity. Vegetarianism is adopted for animal ethics, environmental reasons, or religious beliefs. Vegetarian diets are believed to improve the gut microbiome, body weight, cardiovascular health and inflammation; however, a synthesis of the up-to-date evidence does not seem to support these effects. When objective measures are sought, it becomes apparent that there is a lack of high-quality evidence regarding the […]
- Can Dietary Supplements Be Linked to a Vegan Diet and Health Risk Modulation During Vegan Pregnancy, Infancy, and Early Childhood? The VedieS Study Protocol for an Explorative, Quantitative,…on August 28, 2025
As veganism becomes more popular, the number of vegan pregnant women and children is steadily increasing. During vegan pregnancy and early childhood, there is a high risk for nutrient deficiencies that may impair child development. External factors, such as healthcare advice, social networks, and social environments, that affect the diet of vegan pregnant women, parents, and their children, as well as their approach towards dietary supplementation, have not yet been investigated. Various […]
- Vegan and Plant-Based Diets in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome: A Narrative Review from Anti-Inflammatory and Antithrombotic Perspectiveson August 28, 2025
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined by a combination of metabolic abnormalities, such as central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The high prevalence of MetS is a public health concern, necessitating rapid identification and intervention strategies to prevent this emerging epidemic. Diagnosing MetS requires the presence of three or more of these abnormalities, underscoring the […]
- Risk of Osteoporosis and Anemia in Plant-Based Diets: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Deficiencies and Clinical Implicationson August 22, 2025
The global shift toward plant-based diets is accelerating, driven by growing awareness of health, environmental, and ethical concerns. While these diets are linked to reduced risks of chronic diseases, emerging evidence highlights potential nutritional deficiencies, particularly in calcium, iron, and vitamin B12, that may compromise bone and hematologic health. This systematic review investigates the relationship between strict plant-based dietary practices and the risks of anemia and…
- Dietary guidance on plant-based meat alternatives for individuals wanting to increase plant protein intakeon August 21, 2025
A new generation of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) has entered the mainstream. These products contain concentrated sources of plant protein and are formulated to mimic the taste and texture of their meat-based counterparts, especially red meat. The increased availability of these products coincides with calls from health agencies to increase the dietary plant-to-animal protein ratio for health and environmental reasons. The role of PBMAs in achieving the goal of consuming more plant…
Random Posts –
Featured Posts –

Latest from PubMed, #plant-based diet –
- Knowledge as a Key Factor in Consumption and Its Importance for Agrifood Product Communicationby Elisa Garrido-Castro on September 3, 2025
Consumer knowledge is a variable that has been widely studied in the literature due to its strong influence on behavior, which could be crucial in some specific contexts where product consumption largely depends on what the consumer specifically knows about the product in question. Communication campaigns designed to convey clear and useful information for the purchase decision are the key to increasing knowledge and, consequently, consumption. Using data collected from a total of 3200 olive…
- Influence of Resistant Starch-Added Meat Analogs on the Resistome of Fecal Fermentations Using Human Gut Microbiotaby Tingting Gu on September 3, 2025
Meat analogs are emerging as a sustainable alternative to meat products, and novel meat analog products could potentially offer additional health benefits. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to global human health. Dietary choices affect the composition of bacteria in the human gut microbiome and can influence the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Individuals with lower ARG carriage tend to consume more fiber, suggesting that novel fiber-rich meat analogs […]
- Dietary niche shapes bacterial community in Indo-Pacific antsby Phoebe Cunningham on September 3, 2025
Ants are among the most ecologically diverse insects, especially in tropical forest ecosystems, yet what shapes their microbial associates remains poorly understood. Most research has focused on Neotropical ants, where strong microbial associations have been linked to shifts in diet-such as herbivory-and nesting ecology. In contrast, Indo-Pacific ants, which have independently evolved similar specialized lifestyles, remain largely unstudied for their microbial associations. Here, we integrate…
- The nutritional equation: decoding diet’s influence on breast cancer risk and progression – a perspectiveby Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu on September 3, 2025
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, with rising incidence influenced not only by genetic and hormonal factors but also by lifestyle determinants, particularly diet. Mounting evidence indicates that nutrition plays a significant role in both the risk and progression of breast cancer through mechanisms involving hormonal modulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune regulation. As dietary patterns can either mitigate or exacerbate oncogenic […]
- Microbial Intervention in the Soaking Step during Tempeh Preparation to Modulate B Vitamin Contents: A Metabolomics Approachby Rifqi Ahmad Riyanto on September 3, 2025
B vitamins are integral in maintaining human health. Owing to its high B vitamin contents, tempeh serves as an excellent plant-based option to achieve an adequate intake of these nutrients through diet. In order to investigate the metabolomic profile of tempeh and modulate the contents of vitamins B(2) and B(3) in it, we employed microbial interventions using two species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and various inoculum sizes in the soaking step during tempeh production. We thoroughly […]
- Nutritional analysis of commercially available, complete plant- and meat-based dry dog foods in the UKby Rebecca A Brociek on September 3, 2025
CONCLUSIONS: Adopting a plant-based dietary pattern for your companion canine can provide nutritional adequacy with respect to the majority of macro- and micronutrients, with the exception of iodine and B-vitamins, which could easily be supplemented. Veterinary-renal diets, purposely low in crude protein, often have less than optimal essential amino acid composition. These data provide important new information for owners of companion canines being fed plant-based or veterinary diets.